Motion picture-sound apparatus



April 26, 1932. I c HOXlE' 1,855,884

MoTI N PICTURE SOUND APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25, 1930 c zz 777017027Picture Prq c'tor Inventor Char-Les A. HoxLe, bfl WW HLS After-neg.

I CHARLES A. E0113, ALPLAUS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB '20 GENERAL acteristics.

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Patented Apr. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlca PAINT, A CORPORATIONOFQN'EW YORK MOTION rrc'ru'nn-sotmn arraaa'rus Application filedFebruary 85, 1830. Serial No.'481,808.

My invention relates to apparatus for producing sound accompanied motionpictures and to that type of such apparatus in which the pictures andthe sounds are produced by se arate motor driven units.

he use of separate picture projecting and sound producing units adaptedfor simultaneous operation and each having its own con stant speeddriving motor has certain well known advantages over combined motionpicture-sound producing apparatus such as 1s now in common use. The twounits of the apparatus are adapted to reproduce from separate recordsand, having been started to reproduce their respective recordssynchronously, to continue to do so inasmuch as they are driven byconstant speed motors. The two units, however, being of an entirelydifferent construction from each other, impose loads of a differentcharacter on their respective motors; moreover the two motors eventhough they be of the same type and rating, may differ materially intheir starting char- I For these reasons it has been found that eventhou h corresponding portions of the two recor s are arranged at thereproducing point of the res )ective units preparatory to starting, it oten happens that one unit will come up to speed before the other anddestroy the synchronization. It is the object of my invention,therefore, to provide improved apparatus of this character having meansfor keeping the two units in proper speed relation at starting.

In carrying out my invention I provide a shaft for connecting togetherthe rotating parts of the two units during the starting interval andprovide means for automatically disconnecting the shaft from the unitsafter the units have come up to full speed.

My invention will be better understood from the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and its scope will bepointed out in the appended claims.

In the single figure of the drawing which represents in a more or lessdiagrammatic way an embodiment of my invention, I have shown at 1 amotion picture projector having a synchronous driving motor 2 and at 3 asound reproducer having a synchronous drivng motor 4-. Between the twomotor shafts 1s a connection comprising the flexible shaft 5 which isadapted to be operatively connected with the shaft of motor 2 throughthe" clutch 6 and to be connected with the shaft.

and 10, t 1e former serving to move the clutch into the engagin positionand the latter serving to move the clutch into disengaging position. Atsome point between the two clutches there is provided a contactoperating mechanism comprisin the base 12 having arms 13 and 14 formings aft bearings. Between these bearin s is the screw 15 shown connectedat opposite ends with the shaft 5 and clutch 6 and engaging this screwis the nut 16, a portion of WlllCll slides on the guide rod 17.Projecting from the nut finger 18 which after the nut has been moved apredetermined distance by the screw engages the ,switch20 to cause it tobreak contact with the fixed contact 21 and to make contact with thefixed contact 22. Circuit connections are made between the switch 20,the contacts 21 and 22 and the electromagnets 9 and 10 whereby currentfrom a suitable source such as the battery 23 may energize either themagnets 9 or the magnets 10. The two motors 2 and 4 are shown connectedto the same source 24 through the switch 25.

Supposing that the two machines are to be started for the synchronousreproduction of separate picture and sound film records, the film ofeach machine willbe set with corresponding portions thereof at thereproducing point of each machine. With the two clutches 6 and 7 inengaging position the circuits of two motors 2 and 4 will simultaneouslybe closed. Any tendency of one motor to gain or lose speed relative tothe other will be checked by the shaft connection so that both motorsand hence the films driven thereby will move during the startingoperation in absolute synchronism. During the starting movement the nut16 will be morale 001- b speed the finger' 18 will have moved the speeddrivin switch 20 130 'deenergize the clutch closing magnets 9 and. closethe circuit of the clutch opening magnets l'0. The clutches, thereupon,are immediately shifted to disconnect positlon and the connecting shaftcomes to rest; The two machines, however, continue to operate insynchronism. To reset the nut for a subsequent starting operation theconnecting shaft and screw may be rotated in any suitable manner as byhand. If desired, the nut 16 ma be inthe form of a half nut which isyiel in ly held against the screw so that it may be withdrawn andshifted lengthwise of the'screw for resetting.

I have chosen the particular embodiment described above as illustrativeof my inven tion and it will be apparent that various modifications maybe made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention,which modifications I aim to cover by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is:

1. In combination, a motor driven motion picture projector, a separatemotor driven sound reproducer, means for connecting together the movingparts of the projector and reproducer, and means operative in responseto a predetermined starting mevement of said parts for rendering theconnection inoperative.

2. In combination, a motor driven motionpicture projector, a separatemotor driven sound reproducer, flexible means for connecting togetherthe moving parts respectively thereof during starting and meansresponsive to a predetermined rotative movement of said flexible meansfor interrupting said connection.

3. In combination, a motion-picture projector having a constant speeddriving motor, a sound reproducer having a constant motor, means forsimultaneously energizmg said motors, rotative means connecting togetherthe moving parts of said projector and reproducer, and means responsiveto a predetermined rotative movement of said connecting means forrendering-the connecting means moperative.

4. In combination, a motion-picture projector having a synchronousdrivin motor,

a sound reproducer having a sync ronous driving motor, means comprisinga flexible shaft and a clutch for connecting together the moving partsof said machines at starting, and means responsive to a predeterminedrotative movement of said connecting means for causing the disconnectionof said clutch.

5. In combination, a motion-picture projectorhaving a synchronousdriving motor, a sound reproducer having a synchronous driving motor,means for simultaneously closing the circuits of saidmotors, a shaft,

clutches for connectin the ends thereof with the res ective motor safts, electromagnetic means or opening said clutches, and contact meansoperated by the rotative movement of said shaft for controlling saidelectromagnetic means.

In witness whereof, I have hereto set my hand this24th day of February,1930.

. CHARLES A. HOXIE.

